Should travellers be barred from Corby town centre car park?

Kate Cronin

Barriers could be put up at a Corby car park to deter travellers from pitched up there again.

Two groups of travellers have recently arrived unexpectedly at the new Victoria Place car park behind the Savoy Cinema in Corby.

Corby Council now wants to put up height restriction barriers to try to discourage groups from using the car park because of the mess left behind and the inconvenience to shoppers and cinema users who want to park there.

In a report to councillors at the Overview and Scrutiny Committe, acting head of property Jonathan Waterworth said that barriers could cost £5,000.

He said: “We have had two encampments on that car park so we need to do something to deter it.

“Barriers are quite expensive.

“The travellers were attracted to the car park because it had very good toilet and showering facilities at the pool that they used freely.

“The staff were in a difficult position. We don’t want them to be placed in that position where they’re policing (the showers) against people who can be aggressive and abusive to them.”

Councillors raised the question of whether travellers would just go to different areas of Corby if they couldn’t get on to Victoria Place.

Councillor Peter Petch said: “As soon as we have moved them out of the car park they’re other places in the town.

“We need to have a strategy in place so they’re not just going to move from one place to onother in this town.”

Mr Waterworth added: “It’s a difficult one. In the case of Abingdon Park, quite how we’d secure that without putting fencing around it, I don’t know.

“We couldn’t put barriers at the Parkland Gateway because there are deliveries there all the time.”

No mention was made at the meeting of the possibility of making extra provision for travellers in the town to deter them from camping illegally. There is currently only one permanent travellers site in Corby which is at Dunlop Close next to Corby Power Station.